'a' Recordings

The Vacant Lots 'Berlin EP'

'a' Recordings

The Vacant Lots 'Berlin EP'

The American duo The Vacant Lots , release their first 4 track EP on A Recordings which was recorded in Anton Newcombe’s studio in Berlin. Anton had the band support The Brian Jonestown Massacre in 2014 & so impressed with their sound offered to produce & remix this 4 track EP (also helping out on guitar, bass & synths too) .This release takes the monochrome sound of the Vacant Lots and adds a layer of Berlin chill to the mix of all 4 tracks. Featuring lyrics from Jeffery Lee Pierce on the 1st track “Promise Me” to the disconnected vocals of Astrid Carter on “Verschwinden” . Then to the shoegazing “Land “ & finishing with the throbbing beats of “Funeral Rites”.

The band are supporting the release of this EP, with few dates (see below) . The Vacant Lots released their debut album ‘Departure’ via Sonic Cathedral in 2014. ‘Departure’ was mixed and mastered by former Spacemen 3 legend Sonic Boom and follows previous single releases on Mexican Summer, Reverberation Appreciation Society and a split 10” with Suicide’s Alan Vega on Fuzz Club.

The key element of The Vacant Lots’ minimalist, primitive rock’n’roll songs is their boundless energy, which tears up the psych template with a genuine punk spirit. This ‘minimal means maximum effect’ aesthetic is something they have developed over the past few years, not least by continuing as a two-piece.

The notion of duality is also a recurring theme, whether in the band’s fiercely monochrome artwork or their lyrics, which deal with life and death, love and loss and the human condition. Poetic, but with a streetwise swagger; psych, but with a punk attitude.

To this end, Brian spends most of his spare time working with electronics, building pedals and custom effects. Jared’s extra-curricular activities are based around painting and the written word. He had his first book of poetry ‘Empty Space’ published in 2014.

Brian Jonestown Massacre burst into 2019 with the release of their 18th full-length album, just 7 months after their last one. The self-titled 9-track album is released on Anton Newcombe’s A Recordings on 15th March 2019. It was recorded and produced at Anton’s Cobra Studio in Berlin.

The album was originally going to be released in September, but due to a hugely successful global tour – taking in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe the release was delayed.

Recorded this time last year, the album features Sara Neidorf on drums, HeikeMarie Radeker (LeVent) on bass, Hakon Adalsteinsson (BJM / Third Sound & Gunman & Holy Ghost) on guitar and Anton Newcombe on multiple instruments. Also making a guest vocal appearance on ‘Tombes Oubliées’ is Rike Bienert who has sung on previous BJM albums.

The band performed songs from the album throughout the European leg of the 2018 tour. Anton Newcombe has been a very busy man these past 5 years, having released 4 critically acclaimed Brian Jonestown Massacre albums and an EP, 1 soundtrack album and 2 albums with Tess Parks. All releases were fully recorded and produced at Anton’s studio.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre track ‘Bon Bon’ was used in the 2015 Palme D’Or winner Dheepan. Anton penned the soundtrack for 'Moon Dogs’, a film directed by multi-BAFTA nominated Philip John (Svengali, Downton Abbey, Being Human).

Tracklisting:1. Drained2. Tombes Oubliées3. My Mind Is Filled With Stuff4. Cannot Be Saved5. A Word6. We Never Had a Chance7. Too Sad To Tell You8. Remember Me This9. What Can I Say

The first track is "Forgotten Graves" (which is exclusive to this release) & the second track is “Tombes Oubliées” with Rike (Friedrike) Bienert providing the vocals which is off the forthcoming self titled BJM album.

With Sara Neidorf on drums, Hakon Adalsteinsson on guitar & Heike Marie Rädeker on bass supporting Anton Newcombe in these sessions that were recorded between December 2017 & January 2018 at Cobra Studios in Berlin .

The band have just completed successful tours of the USA ,Canada, Australia, New Zealand & Europe. "Forgotten Graves" is released in the same month as the world commemorates the hundredth anniversary of the World War 1 (“the war to end all wars”), this war never ended any other war & more forgotten graves are being added every day.